Caulking means for seams



United States Patent CAULKING lVIEANS FOR SEAMS Ralph C. Berker, Hoxsie, R.I., assignor to Salem Calking Company, a partnership No Drawing. Application April 10, 1957 Serial No. 651,825

2 Claims. (Cl. 57-140) This invention relates to caulking such as is used in the seams of the hull, deck, and the like, of ships.

Caulking which is at the present time used for filling the seams of the hull, deck, or other parts of a ship, is usually formed of cotton fibers which are in the form of a strand of rather fluify form with suflicient twist so that the caulking may be in the form of a folded package or Wound in a ball to be drawn from the package or ball and forced into the seam by some sort of a metal tool which is driven by a hand hammer. 'Such caulking becomes tight in the seam as the wood swells, which results in maintaining itself in the seam and also serving to seal the seam. It isusually covered with paint and after a time, especially if particles ofmud' or other contamination get into the caulking, it becomes rotten and disintegrates and loses its value as a sealer for seams.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a caulking which will not rot or disintegrate by reason of decay or the like, usually caused from organisms which will attack cotton.

Another object of this invention is to provide a caulking which may be handled in the same manner as caulking now in existence but which will not readily absorb water or moisture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In carrying out this invention, I provide caulking of synthetic fibers, which are extruded in the form of continuous filaments but are then broken or cut into generally uniform staple lengths approximating the length of wool fibers and then formed into a strand and twisted and in some cases plied into multiple strands which has a flufiy nature and just suflicient twist so that it may be balled and worked.

The synthetic fibers which I have chosen for this purpose are either superpolymeric amide of protein-like structure, familiarly referred to as nylon and a polymer of acrylonitrile, familiarly known as Orlon and a polyester formed from ethylene glycol and methyl terephthalic acid known as Dacron. Nylon is referred to as a fiber and molding compound, first produced by E. I. du Pont de Nemours according to the patents of W. H. Carothers. It is'a clear plastic and has high flexibility and'textile strength. The term Orlon is a registered trademark of this same company and is an ivory-colored plastic solid, available in the form of a continuous filament yarn. It does not have the strength and abrasion resistance of nylon but is warmer and feels more like silk. It has excellent resistance to heat and acids and is practically impervious to weather, sea spray, mildew, moths, and most chemical fumes. The term Dacron is a registered trademark of the same company and is available in the form of a continuous filament yarn. It has excellent resistance to heat and acids and is practically impervious to weather,

sea spray, mildew, moths, and most chemical fumes.

Preferably, I form a blend of these three fibers as follows by percentages by weight:

50-100 nylon 0-50 Orlon 0-50 Dacron that is, nylon will be present 50% or greater and the balance will be made up of either Orlon or Dacron or in a mixture of these two in any proportion, or nylon may be used A typical example would be:

50 nylon 25 Orlon 25 Dacron I claim:

1. Caulking for seams comprising a strand of synthetic staple fibers in a fluffy condition having sufliclient twist herein to be worked, said fibers being at least 50% superpolymeric amide protein-like structure (nylon) and with lesser amounts of a fiber of polymeric of acrylonitrile (Orlon) and a polyester fiber (Dacron).

2. Caulking for seams comprising a strand of synthetic staple fibers in a fiuffy condition having suflic'ient twist therein to be worked, said fibers being at least 50% superpolymeric amide protein-like structure (nylon) and with equal amounts of a fiber of a polymer of acrylonitrile (Orlon) and a polyester fiber (Dacron).

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,348,188 Boyer May 9, 1944 2,745,240 Brant May 15, 1956 2,810,281 Appleton et a1. Oct. 22, 1957 

1. CAULKING FOR SEAMS COMPRISING A STRAND OF SYNTHETIC STAPLE FIBERS IN A FLUFFY CONDITION HAVING SUFFICIENT TWIST HEREIN TO BE WORKED, SAID FIBERS BEING AT LEAST 50% SUPERPOLYMERIC AMIDE PROTEIN-LIKE STRUCTURE (NYLON) AND WITH LESS AMOUNTS OF A FIBER OF POLYMERIC OF ACRYLONITRILE (ORLON) AND A POLYESTER FIBER (DACRON). 